失意、僭越与女皇权术——武周朝薛怀义被杀事件述评

Disappointment, Over-permissions and the Power of a Female Emperor: An Investigation into Xue Huaiyi’s Assassination During the Wuzhou Dynasty

武周朝重要政治人物薛怀义在武周政治生态中的重要性一直未得到学界的充分重视。薛怀义作为武则天称帝前后重要的舆论喉舌和政治帮手,是武则天不可或缺的私人政治力量。他在武周政局稳定后被武则天暗杀,诸史对其死因语焉不详,学界亦未深入研究,大致认为是其纵火明堂导致与女皇关系恶化。实际上,薛在武周政坛上昙花一现不可简单视作是其与女皇私人关系变化的结果,而是中国古代历史上常见的兔死狗烹现象。其煊赫一时与其政治贡献密不可分,宠衰也主要是武周政局日趋稳定的结果。其纵火明堂等行为不仅严重影响武周政局的稳定,且引起了武则天关于谋逆弑君的猜忌。就此意义而言,此事件体现出武周朝的政治转型,薛怀义被杀具有一定的历史必然性。

During the Wuzhou period,the importance of Xue Huaiyi in Wuzhou politics has not been fully valued.Actually,Xue Huaiyi was an important public voice and effective helper for Wu Zetian to become emperor,and was the indispensable and personal political power of her.After Wu Zhou's political stability,he died in Wu Zetian,s assassination.Historical books do not clearly explain the reasons,and the academic community did not conduct in-depth research.It is generally believed that he died of a deterioration in his relationship with Wu Zetian.This is because he set fire to Mingtang.In fact,Xue Huaiyi's transitory appearance in Wuzhou politics can not simply be regarded as the result of the deterioration of personal relations with the female emperor.It is the political phenomenon called “Rabbit dead and dog cooked”in Chinese history.Specifically,Xue Huaiyi's prominence in the Wuzhou Dynasty was related to his political contribution.His loss of grace was mainly due to the gradual stability of the political situation and his political value gradually weakened.His behavior such as setting fire to Mingtang threatened the stability of the political situation in Wuzhou Dynasty and caused Wu Zetian's suspicion that he was seeking to rebel against the king.In this sense,Xue Huaiyi's being killed has a certain historical inevitability and is a turning point in the Wuzhou's political transition.